The Sacraments: An Interdisciplinary and Interactive Study
IMAGES OF MARRIAGE
Liturgical marriage ceremonies date from the 12th century in western Christianity (the Catholic tradition), but there is evidence of church weddings as early as the seventh century in eastern Christianity (the Orthodox tradition). Before the development of these sacramental rites, betrothals and weddings were primarily family celebrations presided over by the parents who arranged the marriages. In the past, both the relationship between the spouses and the ceremony that united them were also called matrimony, derived from matrimonia, the Latin word for marriage.
The following images depict the sacrament from the Middle Ages to today. Unless otherwise noted, the rituals are those of the Roman Catholic Church.
Marriage in the Middle Ages
Detail from the baptismal font of St. Mary’s Church in Binham, England
The Sacrament of Matrimony
(19th century colored print)
The Sacrament of Matrimony
(Detail from The Seven Sacraments by Rogier van der Weyden, 1545)
A Catholic wedding in Italy
Bride and groom standing before the altar at their nuptial mass.
Catholc weddings are often performed in the context of a eucharistic liturgy.
But the nuptial mass is not an essential part of the wedding.
Catholics can also be married in simple sacramental ceremony.
Pronouncing the marriage vows
From a Catholic perspective, this the essetial moment in the ceremony.
Exchanging vows in Toronto, Canada
After pronouncing vows at a Protestant wedding
A Russian Orthodox wedding in New York
An African Methodist Episcopal wedding
A Mennonite marriage ceremony held in a Baptist church in Michigan
Bestowing the ring on a new partner for life
The marriage band is a symbol of fidelty.
Lighting a unity candle is customary in some places.
A happy moment saved on film
Unity candle being lit during a Protestant wedding
Blessing the couple toward the end of the ceremony
Secular rituals such as this one continue
the celebration of marriage after the church wedding.
At the beginning of a Russian Orthodox wedding
In an Orthodox wedding, the crowning symbolizes both the crown of martyrdom
and the establishment of a new kingdom in the home.
Sometimes the crowns look more like crowns.
Sometimes the crowns are simple symbolic hoops.
Whether elaborate or simple, a wedding is always a happy occasion.
An Orthodox wedding in Bulgaria
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